Israel releases 16 Palestinians arrested in Gaza Strip

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Israeli authorities on Wednesday released 16 Palestinians, including a boy and an elderly woman, who were arrested in areas across the Gaza Strip during their ground operation that began on October 27.

According to an Anadolu correspondent, the Palestinians were released via the Israeli army’s Kissufim military base east of the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

The correspondent noted that 13 of the released Palestinians were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for health reasons.

“During the examination by the doctors, signs of torture were found on their bodies,” the Anadolu correspondent added.

In recent months, the Israeli army has released dozens of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip in groups. Most of them were in poor health and bore signs of torture on their bodies.

Recently released Palestinians confirmed in their testimonies that they were subjected to torture, humiliation and harsh interrogations during their detention.

Thousands of Palestinians have been arrested by the Israeli army in various areas of the Gaza Strip. However, the Israeli authorities still refuse to disclose the exact number of Palestinians arrested in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has ignored a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire and is facing international criticism for its ongoing brutal offensive on Gaza since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

According to local health authorities, more than 38,700 Palestinians have been killed since then, mostly women and children, and more than 89,000 injured.

More than nine months after the start of the Israeli attack, large parts of the Gaza Strip lie in ruins and people are cut off from supplies of food, clean water and medicine by a crippling blockade.

Israel is accused of genocide by the International Court of Justice. In its latest ruling, Israel was ordered to immediately cease its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before the May 6 invasion.

*Written by Ahmed Asmar

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